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Meteorologists with the National Weather Service (NWS) have issued a life-threatening flash flood warning for parts of Arizona as remnants of Tropical Storm Priscilla brings excessive moisture to the state.
Newsweek has reached out to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) by email for comment.
Why It Matters
Priscilla was the 16th named storm of the 2025 Eastern Pacific hurricane season. As of a recent update from the NHC, Priscilla had maximum wind speeds of 45 miles per hour, making it a tropical storm, though earlier it was classified as an upper-level Category 2 hurricane, with winds of 110 mph.
The storm is expected to soon weaken into a post-tropical depression. Despite its weakening power, heavy rain associated with the storm has already stretched as far north as the Desert Southwest.
What to Know
NWS offices across the Desert Southwest have issued flood watches in advance of the heavy rain, which is expected to impact parts of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico through this weekend.
Although Priscilla has not made landfall and is currently churning off the coast of Baja California, rain bands associated with the storm are already moving into the U.S.
Priscilla Weather Radar
Animated weather footage from windy.com shows thunderstorms and heavy rain associated with the storm are now impacting southeastern California and much of Arizona, with the strongest storms in central Arizona.
Rain Accumulation
Over the next three days, windy.com shows the worst of the rain will hit Central Arizona near Phoenix, with around 3 to 4 inches possible.
“Chances for heavy rainfall will increase over the next couple of days, leading to increasing flooding concerns across the area. Greatest rainfall amounts are expected across south-central AZ, especially N and E of PHX,” the NWS office in Phoenix posted on X on Friday. “A Flood Watch is in effect for most areas through Sat.”
A rainfall forecast from the NWS Weather Prediction Center showed a small portion of north-central Arizona and part of southwestern Colorado could receive rainfall amounts between 4 and 6 inches.
Lesser amounts of 1 to 2 inches will be much more widespread across Arizona, Utah, and Colorado.
Thunderstorms
As of Friday afternoon, the worst of the thunderstorms were clustered near Las Vegas.
“Tropical moisture brings rainfall chances to most of the area today and tonight,” NWS Las Vegas posted on X. “Precipitation chances decrease and gusty winds increase tomorrow as the system exits.”
Weather Alerts
Much of Arizona, Utah, and Colorado faced moderate weather alerts, as well as parts of Southern California and Northwestern New Mexico.
Most NWS alerts in place were flood related.
What People Are Saying
NHC in a public advisory about Priscilla: “As Priscilla moves off the west coast of Baja California, up to an inch of rain is expected across the Baja California peninsula. For the southwestern United States, 2 to 4 inches of rain, with local storm total maxima to 6 inches, are expected across portions of central and northern Arizona, southern Utah, and southwest Colorado through Saturday. Flash flooding is likely in portions of central Arizona and southwest Utah, with scattered areas of flash flooding expected across the remainder of Arizona, southern Utah, southwest Colorado, and far northwest New Mexico.”
NWS Flagstaff in a flash flood warning currently in place: “Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, normally dry washes, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.”
What Happens Next?
The flash flood warning will expire at 1:45 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. However, other alerts related to the storm, such as flood watches, will remain in place through Saturday evening.
NWS and NHC meteorologists will continue issuing updates about the storm as it progresses.
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